Waterproof elastic thread and fabric



1944- s. w. ALDERFER 2,3

WATERPROOF ELASTIC THREAD AND FABRIC Filed May 1, 1942 INVENTOR JTERL ING M4 HLDERFER ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 22,4944

wa'ram'aoor nms'rrc THREAD AND manic Sterling W. Alder-fer, Akron, Ohio, assignor of one-half to Edward D. Andrews, Akron, Ohio Application May 1, 1942 Serial No. 441,414

15 Claims.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of an elastic (or non elastic), waterproof thread made from a polyvinyl alcohol and fabric made therefrom. It has been proposed heretofore to make thread from polyvinyl alcohol or its derivatives with or without the addition of a plasticizer which imparts elastic properties to the thread, but this form of thread has been unsuitable for many purposes because it is very readily soluble in water.' As a consequence it has not been usable for elastic garments such as girdles, belts, garters, or the like because the thread is destroyed if the garment is washed. Indeed the moisture supplied by perspiration has deteriorated the thread so as to render garments made therefrom unsorb water by swelling. If the polyvinyl alcohol can be restrained from expansion, however, it cannot absorb water and can be kept from deteriorating even if water contacts it.

The principle upon which this discovery and invention is based is the prevention of the deleterious action of water by confining the polyvinyl alcohol in a jacket or enclosure which is so tightly and closely applied to the material that it cannot expand and, therefore, will not absorb the water. Specifically,-the invention, in one form, consists in applying about a core of polyvinyl alcohol, a tight wrapping of thread which is applied in such closely positioned turns or convolutions that the polyvinyl alcohol cannot escape or expand. Being restrained from rerepeatedly without destruction of the thread or loss of its original properties.

The thread may either be elastic or nonelastic, depending upon whether the polyvinyl alcohol is compounded with a plasticizer, such as glycerol, which will impart that desirable quality to the thread.

acting to the water as it would if free, he material will remain in its original condit on, and garments made of this thread can be washed terial and prevent its tacts water.

Other methods may be found to imprison the polyvinyl alcohol and prevent the swelling due to the absorption of water. A tight fitting jacket may be braided about the thread or a closely fitting wrapping may be employed,

To illustrate the invention in its best known or preferred form, there is shown a thread with a core of the material and two closely and tightly wound layers of thread which may be cotton, silk, rayon, or any other material, but it must be distinctly and clearly understood that this is illustrative only and that the invention contemplates any tight fitting Jacket which will imprison the core and prevent its expansion without destroying the essential flexibility of the thread.

In the form of the invention shown:

Fig. 1 is a side view enlarged of a typical covered thread such as may he used in the manufacture of elastic garments, the two coverings being stepped back to illustrate the construction.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line, 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of, a washable fabric made from the thread. p

The core i is, as stated, a thread made from polyvinyl alcohol by any known method. It may be extruded or formed from a tape by rolling or expansion when it confolding upon itself. It may also be a thread cut from. a sheet of the material, in which case it will be square in cross-section. If it is intended to be elastic, a suitable plasticizer such as glycerol is added to the polyvinyl alcohol.

The covering consists of two layers of thread closely and tightly wrapped about the core, an inner covering 2 wound in one direction and an outer covering 3 wound in the opposite direction. As shown, the convolutions of the'wrapping are placed just as closely together as it is possible to apply them so that no crevices or passages can be found through which the polyvinyl alcohol may force its way out of the im- Similar results maybe obtained by incorporat ing the polyvinyl core" as .the filler in a woven fabric in which the warp threads are closely prisoning jacket. As the polyvinyl alcoholcannot absorb the water without swelling and as swelling is effectually prevented, the material cannot be injuriously affected by the water. The only effect observable in a thread which has been immersed in water for severalhours is that when the outer cover is removed, spiral ridges appear' on the core where the polyvinyl alcohol has filled up the space between the covering threads. This is illustrated in 1'18. 2.

positioned so as to confine the'po v i 'ylma- 86 The basic lnvention'as set'forth herein'mcy be realized in other ways as noted. The invention broadly consists in preventing destruction orthe core by confining it in a flexible 'jacketwhich covers it so completely that swelling of the core is prevented.

The claims are intended to be of suflicient breadth to cover the various modifications of the invention which have been suggested. By the conception herein disclosed, it is posslbleto employ threads made of this material in a. wide variety of articles which have not been deemed possible heretofore because it has not been realized that the deterioration of the material may be prevented by confining it in the manner stated.

It'has been proposed to treat this material with glycerol. The reason for this treatment of the covering is .to prevent the glycerol from migrating from the core to the covering. Any usual or well known waterproofing treatment may be employed for this purpose. It will be understood,

however, that the purpose of the invention is not to prevent water from coming into contact with the polyvinyl alcohol.

In Fig. 3 is shown, merely by way of example, a square woven fabric made of elastic threads such as illustrated in Fig. 1. Any form of weave may be employed and this view is merely illustrative of material made from the thread elements.

What is claimed is:

1. An elastic water-resistant thread compris- 40 ing a central core containing polyvinyl alcohol, and a covering thereon, the elements of the covering being tightly wound about the core and 1 forming a confining Jacket which prevents any expansion of the polyvinyl alcohol when contacted by water.

2. An elastic water-resistant thread comprising a core containing polyvinyl alcohol, and a covering over the core, said covering consisting of threads of glycerol-repellent material applied tightly about the core and in close contact with one another so as to prevent swelling of the polyvinyl alcohol under the influence of water.

3. A water-resistant fabric containing threads of polyvinyl alcohol, and a water absorbent covering over the threads, said covering being devoid of fissures or passages through which the polyvinyl alcohol may escape when water is brought into contact therewith.

4. A water-resistant fabric containing threads of polyvinyl alcohol, and an outer covering over the threads, said covering being tightly held over the threads and closely positioned so as to prevent expansion of the polyvinyl alcohol or seepage through. the covering when the fabric is moistened.

5. A fabric having incorporated therein threads of polyvinyl alcohol, and an outer covering which prevents the swelling of the polyvinyl alcohol when water contacts the threads.

My invention differs therefrom 20 6. A, fabric having incorporated therein threads of polyvinyl alcohol, and an outer covering tightly applied over the threads and. devoid of through passages so that when water contacts the threads the polyvinyl alcohol cannot swell either by stretching the covering or escaping through the covering. I

7. A fabric having incorporated therein threads of .polyvinyl alcohol, and a water-absorbent outer covering tightly applied over the threads and devoid of through passages so that when water contacts the threads the polyvinyl alcohol cannot swell either by stretching the covering or escaping through the covering.

8. An elastic thread suitable for the manufacture of washable garments, said thread cornprising an inner elastic core containing polyvinyl alcohol and a confining jacket about the core, said jacket being composed of threads so tightly applied about the core and in such close contact that the core is prevented from swelling when water contacts therewith.

9. An elastic thread suitable for the manufacture of washable garments, said thread comprising an elastic core containing polyvinyl alcohol and a jacket surrounding the core, said jacket being composed of threads in close contact with the core and each other whereby absorption of water by the core is prevented by restricting any swelling of the core.

10. A fabric suitable for the manufacture of washable garments, threads of polyvinyl alcohol, and means for preventing the destruction of the threads by water in contact with the threads consisting of a cover over the threads which confines the polyvinyl alcohol and restrains its expansion under the influence of water.

11. A thread suitable for the manufacture of washable garments, said thread containing a core of polyvinyl alcohol, and means for preventing the destruction of the core when in contact with water consisting of a jacket surrounding the core, the elements of the jacket being so closely and tightly applied about the core as to prevent its expansion under the influence of water.

12. As a new article of manufacture a waterresistant material comprising a centrally located body of polyvinyl alcohol and means for preventing the absorption of water by the polyvinyl alcohol consisting of an outer covering which permits water to contact the polyvinyl'alcohol but restrains the swelling thereof under the influence of the water.

13. A washable fabric containing polyvinyl alcohol, and means in said fabric which permits water to contact the polyvinyl alco 'ol but restrains the swelling thereof under the i uence of the water.

14. A thread containing polyvinyl alcohol, and means on said thread which permits water to contact the polyvinyl alcohol but restrains the swelling thereof under the influence of the water.

15. A thread containing polyvinyl alcohol, and

a covering for said thread which permits water to contact the polyvinyl alcohol but restrains the swelling thereof under the influence of the water.

STERLING W.

said fabric containin 

